Are shifter bushings worth it?

Are shifter bushings worth it?

The base bushings provide a more direct shift feeling, when going into the gates, there is less rubbery feeling. Short shifter obviously made it shift shorter, and the centering spring helped the feeling aswell. But the centering spring is hard to describe, but it certainly helps.

How much does it cost to replace shifter bushings?

A shifter bushing costs on average between $10 and $15. It’s a relatively inexpensive part that can drastically improve shifting quality.

Why does my shifter feel loose?

When a shifter bushing is worn, the shifter feels loose. It’s because the worn bushing left a gap between the handle and the shift rail. Shift rails have detent notches machined into their sides. A spring-loaded ball fits into the detent notch to keep the transmission in gear.

What happens if your shifter cable breaks?

If the cable is broken, you’ll be able to move the shifter into any position, but the transmission will stay in the same gear. This may leave you stuck in gear, or even stuck in park depending on when the cable broke. If you can only rock the vehicle, but your indicator says neutral, the cable is probably broken.

When to replace the shift bushings on an older BMW?

Very often on older BMWs, the shifting ability deteriorates as the years go by. While many people blame their transmissions and prepare for a full rebuild, their worries may be needless. In many cases, the shift bushings have simply worn out and need to be replaced.

How do you install a Ball-Cup shifter bushing?

Clean the inside of the shifter arm where the ball-cup bushing fits ( Figure 31 ). Apply some white lithium grease to the ball of the shifter arm prior to installation ( Figure 32 ). Push the new ball cup bushing onto the shift lever and insert into the shifter arm ( Figure 33 ).

How do I replace the shifter arm bushing on my transmission?

Let’s begin the renewal process by replacing each bushing, starting with the shifter arm bushing (sometimes called a carrier bushing) that attaches to the transmission. The old bushing is shown in Figure 17 . Remove the old bushing by cutting it off with a razor blade or knife ( Figure 18 ).

How well do BMWs shift?

Every BMW I have owned has always shifted pretty well – providing that the shift bushings are not worn out. Very often on older BMWs, the shifting ability deteriorates as the years go by. While many people blame their transmissions and prepare for a full rebuild, their worries may be needless.